Reformation Sunday October 31, 2010

Transcription

1 PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH Serving us today : Pastor Nathan J. Pfeiffer home/office (605) cell - (605) Organists Gweneth Hansen Ushers Scott Hansen Sunday School Superintendent Scott Hansen Sunday School Teachers..... Larry and Steve Hansen (6th-8th) Rachel Kippley (2 nd -4 th ) Shelly Schwab (Pre-school) Pre-service Meditation Psalm 119 XVII; pg. 151 Pre-service Prayer: Lord God, it is Your Spirit who can create in us clean hearts and renew within us right spirits. We pray that as we worship today Your Spirit would be present and active within us as we hear Your Word and receive Your Sacrament. Move us, O Lord, to be faithful Christians. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. ~ Opening Prayer ~ Reformation Sunday October 31, 2010 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Hwy 37 Hecla, SD www. hecla lutheran.com Prince of Peace is a member congregation of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) Visit www. clclutheran.org for more information Opening Hymn 774 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Choirs: verses 1-3 Congregation: verse 4 INVOCATION P: We gather together in the name of the Father who created us; in the name of the Son who redeemed us; and in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us. C: Thanks be to God. Amen. + Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; To his feet your tribute bring; Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Evermore his praises sing: Alleluia, alleluia! Praise the everlasting King. -1-

2 CONFESSION OF SINS AND ABSOLUTION P. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. C. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. P. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. C. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. P. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. C. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Heavenly Father, we come to You confessing that we have sinned against You in many and various ways. By our thoughts, words, and actions we have walked in the counsel of the wicked, stood in the way of sinners, and sat in the seat of mockers. We ask You to forgive us on account of the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit lead us ever to delight in Your Word of salvation so that we may be as trees planted by streams of living water which yield their fruit in the proper season. P. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Therefore, upon this your confession I announce the grace of God to you all. By the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. + Praise him for his grace and favor To his people in distress; Praise him still the same as ever, Slow to chide and swift to bless: Alleluia, alleluia! Glorious in his faithfulness. Our Reformation Psalm Psalm 91 Worship Supplement, page 33 KYRIE P. O Lord, as You have had mercy on us in our spiritual need, look upon us also in our bodily distress. C. Have mercy upon us, O Lord. P. As you healed the blind man who called out to You for mercy, reach down with Your powerful hand to restore us and preserve us while we live our lives in this fallen world. C. Have mercy upon us, O Christ. P. Strengthen us each hour that we might serve You all our days. C. Have mercy upon us, O Lord. + Fatherlike he tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame he knows; In his hand he gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia, alleluia! Widely yet his mercy flows. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS P. We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord. C. Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory. P. You are the King of Glory, O Christ. C. When You had overcome the sharpness of death, You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. P. Now grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. C. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen

3 + "Glory in the highest glory!" Shout the angels in the skies, Bringing earth the wondrous story: God is come he meets our eyes. Alleluia, alleluia! "Peace to you," the Lamb now cries! PRAYER OF THE DAY P. Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your Word, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all their enemies, and bestow on the Church your saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C. + Amen. Scripture Readings These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. - John 20:31 New Testament Lesson: Romans 3:19-28 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. P: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Hallelujah! (John 8:31-32) ALL: + Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! P: Our Gospel lesson for today is from the gospel according to John, chapter eight, beginning with the thirty-first verse. C: + Glory be to Thee, O Lord! GOSPEL Lesson: John 8:31-36 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. P: So far the Gospel lesson. C: + Praise be to Thee, O Christ! Confession of Faith: The Apostles Creed; Hymnal pg

4 Hymn 266 O God, Our Lord, Thy Holy Word ~ The Sermon ~ 1 Samuel 7:1-6, 9-12 Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 2 So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines." 4 So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only. 5 And Samuel said, "Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you." 6 So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah... 9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10 Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." Sermon Series: From Ichabod to Ebenezer Based on a 1965 series on 1 Samuel by Pastor Egbert Schaller The Glorious Road from Ichabod to Ebenezer ~ The Offertory ~ P: And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deut 6:6-7) + God's Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay. Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure. Throughout all generations. Amen (TLH #283 - Melody #774) Hymn 33 The Lord hath Helped Me Hitherto ~ Offering of Thankful Hearts ~ ~ Prayers and Lord s Prayer ~ ~ The Benediction ~ Closing Hymn 261 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word WELCOME TO YOU ALL! We rejoice at the opportunity to share with you the hope that is within us. We pray that you might ever desire to learn more about the glorious Son of God, our Savior from sin, Jesus Christ. If you are visiting and would like to learn more about our church, our teachings, or today's service please speak with the pastor. We hope you may be able to join us again! We ask that our visitors record their visit by signing our guest register

5 REFORMATION: October 31, 1517 it is a date cherished by faithful Lutherans. Nothing more can be written that has not already been written. Nevertheless, it is important that through writing and speaking we remind ourselves of the great blessings that grew out of Martin Luther s bold action when he posted the 95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg. It has long been acknowledged that the Reformation which grew out of one bold act of one man under the hand of the Lord God to be sure changed the political, social, cultural, and educational scene of the day. One Catholic writer wrote years ago, It is not incorrect to say, that Luther has been the restorer of liberty in modern times (Quote in The Conservative Reformation and its Theology, CP Krauth, page 3). Those cultural and social results born of the Reformation however were not on the mind of the insignificant monk who posted the theses. His purpose was to rid the church of the stifling tradition of papal authority which impeded the free flow of the Gospel. In 1530 Luther said, We are asking for nothing more, nor have we ever asked for anything more, than the free Gospel (What Luther Says, Vol. 3, 3778, p.1184). Luther tortured by an accusing conscience and fearful of God as he knew Him had no peace and found no release under the papacy. As he read the Scriptures, he recognized that there is no saving doctrine except the Gospel the message of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus! It was not long after Luther s bold action in Wittenberg that it came clear that papal authority and the free flow of the Gospel could not coexist. While we remember Martin Luther with appreciation for his boldness and his steadfastness, we praise the Lord who called the troubled monk to service. We respect the Reformation when we look behind Luther and recognize that he was not the author of it but God s servant to it. Krauth wrote, The Word of God was the creator of the Reformation and its mightiest instrument The Word of God kindled the fire of the Reformation. That Word lay smoldering under the ashes of centuries Through the centuries which followed the corruption of Christianity, the Word of God was still in being (Page 6). The fact that the Word of God was still extant was a divine blessing as well as an expression of divine faithfulness, for the Lord Himself said that His Word would not pass away. Through history however efforts have been made by evil men to suppress the Word. Prior to the Reformation the church under papal authority as well as the Turk (Muslim) each for their own purpose opposed the Lord and His Word. History bears out that the doctrines and religious philosophies advanced by those opposed to the Word of God cannot stand on their own merit. Consequently both pope and Turk resorted to threat, and intimidation, and even force. In1541 Luther wrote the hymn, Lord, keep us Steadfast in Thy Word (TLH 261). This hymn has undergone different translations. This is the first stanza of the hymn: Today we are confronted by forces no less intent on robbing us of the Word of God and the sweet comfort of the Gospel. Islam is on the ascendency again. Extremists within it are bent on applying the teachings of the Koran that speak of death to unbelievers any who do not adopt Islam. They demand rights for their philosophies that they will not grant to Christians and the Bible! The papacy still promotes the idea of no salvation outside the Catholic Church, and still condemns the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Its intent is still to gather the so-called separated brethren under its umbrella. Secularism and humanism consider the emphasis on evolution with all its evil effects-- is rampant in our society. It is the religion of the masses. Lutherans who stand fast in doctrines of Scripture and in the Reformation confession are becoming fewer and fewer in our day as many who dare to call themselves Lutheran have by reason of indifference, ignorance or plain rejection cast aside the eternal truth and doctrines of Scripture which no longer satisfy their reason or suit their agenda. Luther wrote, The pen, not the fire, is to put down heretics. The hangmen are not doctors of theology. This is not the place for force. Not the sword, but the Word fits for this battle. If the word does not put down error, error would stand, though the world were drenched with blood (Quote in Krauth, page 174). The question we must face and to which we must react in the last age of this world and the dying days of confessional Lutheranism in this country is Do we respect the fullness of God s Word recorded for us in the Bible, and are we ready to hear it, defend it, and hold fast to it? We have the promise of the Father. He will uphold His children. In the long and difficult struggle, what time we are afraid we may flee to Him (Psalm 56:3). Unless we ourselves have become guilty of doubting His Word we can look to the hills to find help in time of need (Psalm 121). From the heights He Who is with us always will be our Refuge and Strength (Psalm 46). For the days and the struggles that lie ahead, the poet (St. Columba: ) puts everything in perspective: Christ hath our host surrounded With clouds of martyrs bright, Who wave their palms in triumph, And fire us for the fight. For Christ the cross ascended To save the world undone, And suffering for the sinful Our full redemption won. - Pastor Em. Daniel Fliescher Lord, keep us in Thy Word and work, Restrain the murderous Pope and Turk, Who fain would tear from off Thy throne Christ Jesus, Thy beloved Son (What Luther Says, Note, Vol.III p. 1201)

6 FROM OUR BRETHREN IN MAPLETON: At our quarterly voters meeting in October, the financial straights of our brethren in Mapleton was brought to the attention of the voters. Upon this report the voters decided to send them $5,000 to go toward 6 months payment of their Church Extension loan on their parsonage. There were several notes of thanks from our brethren. Pastor Gurath wished the following to be shared with our congregation: Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, We want to express our gratitude to the Triune God that He moved you to support the work of proclaiming the Gospel here in the Mapleton, ND area. Upon being knowledgeable of our difficult financial situation and our request to the CLC Board of Missions for aid you responded with a most gracious gift. How can we ever thank you enough for what you have done? We will respond in the words of the Psalmist, What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD. We will use your gift as you have requested (6 months payment of our loan). Your expression of Christian love and support will aid us in continuing to reach out to sinners who sorely need to hear the Gospel. We ask that you would continue to pray for us that we can reach out to the many people in the Fargo-Moorhead area including those from your and other congregations who have come here to work and go to school. We are thankful that you stand side by side with us endeavoring to proclaim the Word of Truth. On behalf of all the members of Gift of God Lutheran Church, Pastor Matt Gurath We pray that the Lord of the Church would bless our brethren and open doors that the Gospel ministry in the Fargo-Moorhead area would prosper and grow to the glory of His name! DAKOTA AREA REFORMATION FESTIVAL The congregation is invited to join in a joint worship service with our brethren from around the area for our annual Dakota Area Reformation Festival to be held in Bowdle this afternoon 5 pm. Following the service there will be a fellowship dinner provided by the Redeemer congregation. Attendees are asked to bring a desert to share. Those interested in singing in the joint choir are asked to arrive 30 minutes early to run through A Mighty Fortress. MEDITATIONS RENEWAL Please let Pastor know if you are interested in receiving the daily devotional Meditations. The cost is $13.00 for a year s subscription (unless we have more than 12). CLEANERS AND USHERS NEEDED! We are in need of cleaners during the months of November and December. If you can take a week or two during this stretch, please sign up on the bulletin board. Also, ushers are needed for the coming months. Please consider if you can serve your Lord and church in this way! DAYLIGHT SAVINGS NEXT WEEKEND Remember to turn your clocks back one hour next Saturday night before you go to bed! You wouldn t want to show up to church an hour early! This Prince of Peace... Today 10:15 Brief Voters Meeting 10:25 CLC Documentary Video / Sunday School video (lower grades) 5:00 Mission Festival Service (Bowdle) 6:30 Potluck Dinner Monday 10:00 Pastoral Study Club (Bowdle) Wednesday 5:00 Confirmation Class (Oakes) Saturday 10:00 Confirmation Class DAYLIGHT SAVINGS - FALL BACK 1 HOUR Sunday, Nov 7 - Saints Triumphant Sunday (3 rd to Last of the Church Year) 9:00 Worship Service with Holy Communion 10:25 Bible Class / Sunday School (Pre - OT38-40 / L2 - NT35 / L4 - NT34) November Mon - 1 Tues - 2 Wed - 3 Thur - 4 Fri - 5 Sat - 6 The Bread of Life Daily Bible readings for home devotions. Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46 Spiritual indifference leads to rebellion. Matthew 22:1-14 Jewish rebellion escalated to murder. Matthew 25:14-30 The LORD rewards personal enterprise. Ephesians 5:15-20 God enlists us in His Big Enterprise! Hebrews 10:19-31 We know how to escape God s anger. 1 Peter 2:1-9 We always come back to Jesus for nourishment Hymn: